Psalm 146

Scroll of the Psalms

Psalm 146 is the 146th psalm from the Book of Psalms.

Uses

Ps 146.

Judaism

• The psalm in its entirety is recited daily during Pesukei Dezimra.^[1]
• The blessing Pokeiakh Ivrim from the Birkat HaShachar is derived from Psalm 146.^[2]
• Verse 10 is part of Kedusha,^[3] and is a part of the third blessing of the High Holidays Amidah.^[4]

Catholic

Since the Middle Ages, this psalm was recited or sung during the vespers office on Thursday, according to the Rule of St. Benedict, fixed in 530AD. Because of the number of verses it was divided into two, and from dixi: Tenebrae Forsitan conculcabunt was executed me as a division. So the Vespers celebration of Thursday there were only three psalms instead of quatre.^[5][6]

Given the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 139 is recited Vespers, but also Wednesday's fourth semaine.^[7] In the liturgy of the Mass, it is played or sung for the feast of St. John the Baptist.

Set to music

• The cantata am achten Sonntage nach Trinitatis, Johann Sebastian Bach, who gets verse 23,
• Psalm 139, Paul Blumenthal, with verses 23 and 24,
• Psalm 139, of Johann Nepomuk David for mixed choir,
• The 139th Psalm, Ernst Pepping, for mixed choir for four voices and orchestra,
• 139th Psalm, Franz Koglmann for mezzo-soprano, trumpet, trombone and tuba,
• The Wings of the Morning, David Evan Thomas, for medium voice and piano,
• Psalm 139, Rudi Spring, for viola, mixed choir and organ,
• Psalm 139, Joseph Scrivener, for medium voice and piano.

References

1. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 70
2. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 18
3. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 100
4. The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah page 67
5. Prosper Guéranger, Règle de saint Benoît, (traduction de Prosper Guéranger, réimpressin 2007)
6. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, 1938/2003 p519.
7. Le cycle principal des prières liturgiques se déroule sur quatre semaines